Velázquez and Ramirez Lead Colleagues in Introducing Resolution Calling for an End to the Monroe Doctrine

Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) and Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL) introduced the New Good Neighbor Act, calling for the annulment of the Monroe Doctrine and the establishment of a "New Good Neighbor" policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean. The resolution comes in direct response to the Trump administration's aggressive interventionism across the hemisphere under what they've dubbed the "Donroe Doctrine."

"This administration's aggressive stance toward Latin America makes this resolution critical," said Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez. "Their 'Donroe Doctrine' is simply a more grotesque version of the interventionist policies that have failed us for two centuries. The United States and Latin America face shared challenges in drug trafficking, migration, and climate change. We can only solve these through real partnership, not coercion. We need to finally leave the Monroe Doctrine behind and pursue a foreign policy grounded in mutual respect and shared prosperity."

"For more than 200 years, the United States has used the Monroe Doctrine to justify a paternalistic, damaging approach to relations with Latin America and the Caribbean. As a result, the legacy of our nation's foreign policy in those regions is political instability, deep poverty, extreme migration, and colonialism. It is well past time we change our approach," said Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez. "We must recognize our interconnectedness and admit that the Monroe Doctrine undermines the partnership needed to confront the complex challenges of this century. We must become better neighbors. That is why I am proud to join Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez to develop an approach to foreign policy that advances our collective interests and builds a stronger coalition throughout the Americas and the rest of the world."

The resolution responds to recent Trump administration actions including the illegal military operation in Venezuela, President Trump's claims over Venezuelan oil reserves, and the pardon of convicted drug trafficker and former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández.

In addition to Velázquez and Ramirez, the resolution is cosponsored by Reps. Henry "Hank" Johnson (D-GA), Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Summer Lee (D-PA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Greg Casar (D-TX), Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Sylvia García (D-TX), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and Lateefah Simon (D-CA).

From the invasion of Puerto Rico in 1898 to U.S. support for coups and dictatorships in Latin America throughout the 20th century, the resolution details the harmful effects of the policy over the past 200 years.

The resolution calls for:

1. The Department of State to formally confirm that the Monroe Doctrine is no longer a part of United States policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean.
2. The Federal Government to develop a ''New Good Neighbor'' policy in place of the Monroe Doctrine.
3. Developing a new approach to promoting economic development.
4. The termination of all unilateral economic sanctions imposed through Executive orders, and working with Congress to terminate all unilateral sanctions, such as the Cuba embargo, mandated by law.
5. New legislation to trigger the suspension of assistance to a government whenever there is an extraconstitutional transfer of power.
6. Prompt declassification of all United States Government archives that relate to past coups d'états, dictatorships, and periods in the history of Latin American and Caribbean countries characterized by a high rate of human rights crimes perpetrated by security forces.
7. Collaboration with Latin American and Caribbean governments on a far-reaching reform to the Organization of American States.
8. Supporting democratic reforms to the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, and other international financial institutions.

Alex Main, Director of International Policy at the Center for Economic and Policy Research: "President Trump is waging a new offensive against Latin America and the Caribbean- conducting illegal and unprovoked military attacks and extrajudicial killings and brazenly intervening in other countries' domestic affairs in an undisguised effort to exert control over the region's resources and politics. But while Trump's actions are especially egregious, they are just the latest chapter of a centuries-old story of US military political and economic interference that has subverted democracy and fueled instability and human rights crimes across the hemisphere. It is in the interest of the US to reject this doctrine of unilateral domination and chart a new course for US-Latin American relations - to treat our Latin American siblings as vecinos, not vassals."

Colleen Moore, Director of Peace With Justice at The United Methodist Church - General Board of Church and Society: "The Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church (UMC) rejects the use of war as an instrument of foreign policy and repents for the Church's involvement in colonialism and neocolonialism. As followers of Jesus Christ and our official UMC Social Principles, we unequivocally reject any militarized ideology that deepens political instability anywhere in the world. Church and Society welcomes the reintroduction of this resolution from Congresswoman Velázquez that outlines a U.S. foreign policy towards Latin America based in diplomacy, rule of law, and cooperation."

Cavan Kharrazian, Senior Policy Advisor at Demand Progress: "President Trump's recent unauthorized military interventions and continued threats in the Western Hemisphere make clear that the legacy of the Monroe Doctrine still shapes U.S. foreign policy in harmful ways. We commend the cosponsors of this resolution for confronting that history and advancing a new framework for U.S. engagement in the region grounded in mutual respect, sovereignty, and cooperation rather than coercion or threats."

George Escobar, Executive Director of We are CASA: "For many of our community, the long history of US intervention is a deeply personal experience. Our members have family, loved ones, and roots in the region that continues to be a target of military intervention and forced regime change. The US's foreign policy in Latin America continues to undermine sovereignty, self-determination, and the rule of law, while placing lives at serious risk. As people are forcibly displaced from their homes due to violence and instability, they come to the US seeking safety for themselves and their families. They now face the risk of being sent back to the very same dangerous conditions created by the US, as the current administration attacks humanitarian programs, such as the cancellation of Temporary Protected Status. It is well beyond the moment for the US to turn away from the doctrine of violence and look towards building a better future together with Latin America."

Text of the resolution can be found here.

A recording of the press conference announcing the resolution can be found here.

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Congresistas Velázquez y Ramírez encabezan a un grupo de legisladores en la presentación de una resolución que llama a poner fin a la Doctrina Monroe

Washington, D.C.- Hoy, la congresista Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) y la congresista Delia Ramírez (D-IL) presentaron la New Good Neighbor Act, que exige la anulación de la Doctrina Monroe y el establecimiento de una "Nueva política del Buen Vecino" hacia América Latina y el Caribe. La resolución nace como una respuesta directa al agresivo intervencionismo de la Administración Trump en todo el hemisferio, bajo lo que han denominado la "Doctrina Donroe".

"La postura agresiva de esta Administración hacia América Latina hace que esta resolución sea fundamental", afirmó la congresista Nydia M. Velázquez. "Su 'Doctrina Donroe' no es más que una versión aún más grotesca de las políticas intervencionistas que han fallado durante dos siglos. Estados Unidos y América Latina enfrentan desafíos compartidos en materia de narcotráfico, migración y cambio climático. Solo podemos resolverlos mediante una verdadera cooperación, no mediante la coerción. Debemos dejar atrás de una vez por todas la Doctrina Monroe y avanzar hacia una política exterior basada en el respeto mutuo y la prosperidad compartida".

"Durante más de 200 años, Estados Unidos ha invocado la Doctrina Monroe para justificar un enfoque paternalista y profundamente perjudicial en sus relaciones con América Latina y el Caribe. El resultado ha sido un legado de inestabilidad política, pobreza estructural, migración forzada y colonialismo. Ya es hora de cambiar de rumbo", afirmó la congresista Delia C. Ramírez. "Debemos reconocer nuestra interdependencia y admitir que la Doctrina Monroe socava la alianza que necesitamos para enfrentar los complejos desafíos de este siglo. Es momento de convertirnos en mejores vecinos. Por eso me enorgullece unirme a la congresista Nydia Velázquez para impulsar una política exterior que avance nuestros intereses colectivos y fortalezca una coalición más sólida en las Américas y en el resto del mundo".

La resolución surge como respuesta a una serie de acciones recientes de la Administración Trump, entre ellas una operación militar ilegal en Venezuela, las declaraciones del presidente Trump reclamando las reservas petroleras venezolanas y el indulto otorgado al expresidente hondureño Juan Orlando Hernández, condenado por narcotráfico.

Además de Velázquez y Ramírez, la resolución cuenta con el copatrocinio de los representantes Henry "Hank" Johnson (D-GA), Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Summer Lee (D-PA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Greg Casar (D-TX), Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Sylvia García (D-TX), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Ilhan Omar (D-MN) y Lateefah Simon (D-CA).

Desde la invasión de Puerto Rico en 1898 hasta el respaldo de Estados Unidos a golpes de Estado y dictaduras en América Latina a lo largo del siglo XX, la resolución documenta de manera detallada los efectos profundamente nocivos de esta política a lo largo de más de 200 años.

La resolución exige:

1. Que el Departamento de Estado confirme formalmente que la Doctrina Monroe ya no forma parte de la política de Estados Unidos hacia América Latina y el Caribe.
2. Que el Gobierno Federal desarrolle una "Nueva política del Buen Vecino" en reemplazo de la Doctrina Monroe.
3. El desarrollo de un nuevo enfoque para promover el desarrollo económico.
4. El fin de todas las sanciones económicas unilaterales impuestas mediante órdenes ejecutivas y el trabajo conjunto con el Congreso para poner fin a todas las sanciones unilaterales establecidas por ley, como el embargo a Cuba.
5. Una nueva legislación que active la suspensión de la asistencia a un gobierno cada vez que se produzca una transferencia de poder extraconstitucional.
6. La pronta desclasificación de todos los archivos del Gobierno de Estados Unidos relacionados con golpes de Estado, dictaduras y períodos de la historia de países de América Latina y el Caribe caracterizados por altos niveles de violaciones a los derechos humanos perpetradas por fuerzas de seguridad.
7. La colaboración con los gobiernos de América Latina y el Caribe en una reforma profunda de la Organización de los Estados Americanos.
8. El apoyo a reformas democráticas en el Fondo Monetario Internacional, el Banco Mundial, el Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo y otras instituciones financieras internacionales.